Herb: Future Update Policy with VSL

[Stazle]

Hi,

I've finally decided to take the plunge for VSL, but I am a bit concerned about the upgrade philosophy. I LOVE the fact that saxophones are being recorded because I write a lot for wind ensembles. I will also definitely want the MIR stuff when it is available... However, with all the upgrades coming out, I would be very dissapointed to purchase VSL now, only having to spend another $1000 in December to get the new version with saxophones, and then another $2000 for the "Super Pro" version that includes MIR, followed by the next version with an updated performance tool, etc.

Is the cost for the upgrade going to be seen in the full updated product. For instance Pro Edition costs X, the upgrade costs Y, and the "Super Pro" version costs X+Y?... I guess this would allow prospective consumers to buy with confidence, knowing they would not be screwed by buying the older version only to realize the newer version costs the same but they would need to pay a ton to upgrade. On the other hand, after three upgrades VSL could reach up to $10,000 in cost.

Can you explain how some of these upgrades will be handled (especially saxes and MIR). Will they be available for free for registered users, will there be a small fee for the additional programming and recording costs, or should we expect something similar to the difference between the First and Pro edition?

Thanks!

Dave

[herb]

Hi Dave,

I think for the Saxes I do have good news for you.
These instruments will be also released seperately.

Regarding MIR, here we didn't make final desicions.
But I see this developement as a service for our costumers, so it shouldn't cost a fortune for VSL users.
Please don't quote me on that, at the momet it's only my personal view
(as chief of this company [[;)]] )

best wishes
Herb

[cm]

hammersmith, the upgrade policy is more or less recognizable with the current update (and has been announced by martin tichy somewhere deep in the older threads of the forum) - this is the VIP-program
the first edition plus the price of the upgrade is less than the pro edition fullprice - means: you don't pay a sample twice. additionally you have the option to crossgrade to another platform when upgrading and keep the previous edition from the first platform - a really generous offer as i feel.

future editions will be available in the same way, as a registered user of the pro edition you're entitled to upgrade to the symphonic cube for the difference between both editions.
it looks like after the third upgrade the amount of data will easily exceed the terabyte-barrier (not talking about the extensive number of instruments) so you will have to decide by your own if it's worth the price (whatever it may be then) - but you would still not have to pay a sample from a formerly released edition for a second time.

christian

[Stazle]

Thank you both for the information; sounds great. What is slated for the symphonic cube? Is that the product that will also include choir, ethnic instruments, etc. etc.? Will the saxophones and MIR be ready by then and included? Thanks again; looks like I need to begin counting all the pennies I've saved for a sample library!

-Dave

[Dietz]

(To paraphrase Herb[:)]

My private opinion as the Project Leader of our MIR-developement [;)] :

In Phase 1, the MIR will be available as a highly specialized "Front End", working in close conjunction with our Library. Quite obviously, our main interest is to give _our_ customers a competetive advantage first. It's not decided yet if native CPU's will be powerfull enough for the task, or if there has to be dedicated hardware. - We hope to hit the market in 2004, but I don't dare to predict that it will be ready when the Symphonic Cube is shipping.

In Phase 2, we will most certainly consider to release our engine as a stand-alone version, be it as a (possibly) cut-down native plugin, or relying on dedicated, hardware-based DSP.

For Phase 3, we have still more plans for higher integration of all our products, but it's much too early to talk about.

... hope this answers some of your questions.


/Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library

[herb]

The Symphonic Cube will be focused on common orchestral instruments.
Choir and ethnic instruments are planned as individual releases.

best wishes
Herb

[ISM]

Hey Herb, have you decided what will be released first out of the choir, ethic instruments etc.? I think I remember the possibility of you guys releasing modern techniques and effects, I really want those. Choir and effects are the two i'd like to see first. I know theres all kinds of other stuff being recorded, hope we have a vsl choir before 2030.

[esperlad]

When will the solo viola and contrabass be released? I hope that we can still buy those soon. The solo violin and cello are wonderful, but as I work, I have discovered that I cannot live withouth the viola and bass.

[herb]

Viola and bass should be finished in 8 weeks.
There will be several other releases at this time.
Detailed infos coming soon.

best wishes
Herb

[Peter Alexander]

@esperlad said:

as I work, I have discovered that I cannot live without the viola and bass.

Not to take away from VSL, but some days I feel the same way, except about donuts... [[:|]]

[digi882]

Crossgrade?? is there an option to crossgrade from say the perfomance set to the orchestral cubes etc if so where is this stated.

cheers

[cm]

digi882, you're entitled to either upgrade or crossgrade for the respective product - eg. strings first to strings pro, perfset first to perfset pro, ect.
if you own the cube first edition and intend to get the complete orchestral package pro edition you can upgrade (or crossgrade) the cube, but have to purchase the performance set for the fullprice
chrisitian

[timzydee]

I think you should do more individual instrument releases. It makes it much more difficult to purchase an upgrade if you really only need say 50% of it. And yet right now it's the only way to get certain instruments.